Dr. Klaus L.E. Kaiser

Rummaging in the Basement

It's the time of year my dearest likes to go rummaging in the basement. Basement? What's that? Indeed, many houses in the U.S. don't have such a thing. That's in part because the water table is so close to the surface in some areas and in another part because it would actually require some excavation beyond superficially scraping the surface to build a new abode, adding untold costs to the structure.

Pelamis Wave Power -- Another Alternative Energy Bust

However, when it comes to delivering all the promised energy, more likely than not, it’s going to be just another alternative energy generation bust.

A New Ming Dynasty?

The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) in China was an era of significant advances in science and art. Europe also flourished, leaving the Middle Ages behind and embracing what became known as the Renaissance.

Wrench and Socket--Via Email

The news is abuzz with a socket wrench having been printed with a 3D printer at the international space station. It's claimed that this wrench was required to be used in an unstated task.

Steam and Mirrors

Smoke, Steam, Carbon Dioxide

Outdoor Jackets and PFCs

The Greenpeace (GP) Detox Campaign to get rid of a variety of materials in textiles is in its third year. Let's dig into just one aspect of it, namely per- and poly-fluorinated compounds (PFCs for short) that are used to make water repelling or waterproof high quality outdoor gear such as rain jackets and hiking boots.

How to be a Good BEE: Make Honey or Pollinate Crops?

Neonics and Bee Activism, Honeybees as Honey Makers, Honeybees as Pollinators

More Alternative Energy Follies

In the eight-month period of January-August, 2014, it produced only 250,000 MWh of energy, roughly one quarter of the expected output

Carbon Dioxide's Secret Swirlings

Colourful swirls, False claims, Current bout of snow and cold temperatures on the continent are helping to make a mockery of NASA's "swirlings."

Antarctic Sea-Ice is Not Disappearing but Increasing

The Christian Science Monitor (CSM) reports that “In recent years, environmental scientists have warily watched as the ice sheet on the coast of West Antarctica has begun melting at unprecedented rates. In May, NASA glaciologists declared that the catastrophic melt of the ice sheet to be ‘unstoppable.”

Galactic Vacation Plans on Hold

Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Galacticc Spaceship, Travel to the Moon and Mars

Inert Ingredients -- EPA’s Disgrace du Jour

On October 23, 2014, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Pesticide Programs has published a list of 72 chemicals it proposes to remove from the “Approved Pesticide Inert Ingredient List” (docket # EPA-HQ-OPP-2014-0558) and comments are accepted till Nov. 21, 2014.

Osmosis -- An Alternative Energy Idea Gone Bust

Company is to be congratulated for recognizing the practical limitations of the osmosis idea and stopping to pursue it any further rather than throwing good money after bad and bilking the country's taxpayers out of millions of Norwegian Kroner with promises of free energy that cannot be delivered

The Lego--Greenpeace Duel

The (not-so-green) Greenpeace (GP) club doesn't like Lego, the little building-blocks; toys that many children like to play with.

Sticky Stuff

Sticky Stuff, Tape, Glue, Adhesives, Polymer research, Chemistry, Sticky notes, Duct Tape

Fur Hats

Isn’t it about time you kept warm in some fur too?

Martini Meltdown

Sea-ice in the Arctic. That ice ain't melting and the polar bears are thriving

Dear Uncle Siemens

Don’t let the problem at the Bard-1 offshore wind park wear you down!

Wind Turbines but no Power

The first large scale wind-power installation, some 100 km (65 miles) offshore the northwest coast of Germany has finally been connected to the grid. The Offshore-Windpark Deutsche Bucht is a wind farm with a total of 80 wind turbine towers, each with a hub height of 100 m (300 ft.) above the sea and a combined design output of some 400 Megawatts in electric power.

Franklin’s Erebus or Terror Found

The Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, announced the news: "I am delighted to announce that this year’s Victoria Strait Expedition has solved one of Canada’s greatest mysteries, with the discovery of one of the two ships belonging to the Franklin Expedition lost in 1846.” Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth sent a congratulatory message to Canada.